NATUROPATHIC INDUCTION- GENTLE ENCOURAGEMENT EARTHSIDE

In the early morning hours of a snowy January day, after 17 minutes at the hospital and two very satisfying pushes, my husband and I welcomed a tiny, perfect daughter into the world. My heart filled with love, pride and an overwhelming sense of relief.
At 32 weeks gestation we had a scheduled growth ultrasound to check our daughter's progress in the womb, and to double check a foot that appeared to be turned in, earlier at our 20 week ultrasound. What we found, was that our daughter was small for gestational age. What cannot be determined in these cases is why? Was my placenta not functioning optimally as the neonatologist suggested as a cause, was there a knot in the cord? I knew it wasn't from the other three common causes; smoking, drinking or malnutrition. Perhaps,  suggested my non-medical sister, it's a little girl who is "just nipped in at the waist", as it turns out, my sister spears to have been right!
The neonatologist told me not to be alarmed, chances were the baby was fine, but she didn't want me to gestate past 38 weeks. My heart sank. I'm a big advocate of natural childbirth. I believe birth should follow a natural progression, allowing for nature to take its course unless the well being of babe or mama is at a measurable risk. I went home and researched everything I could do as a naturopathic doctor to help my baby grow; I enlisted the help, support and advice of friends and colleagues. Over the next two weeks she grew twice as much as "expected", and continued to show that trend at the 37 week check up as well. At our 37 week check up the neonatologist said she didn't need to see us again, and she no longer suggested induction before the baby reached term.
From 38 weeks gestation until she was born on her own timeline at 40 weeks and three days I was given a lot of pressure at weekly visits with my obstetrician gynecologist to induce labor, just in case. Just in case me being of advanced maternal age put the fetus at risk, just in case her small size made her more susceptible to fetal death, just in case a protein in my serum indicated an unknown issue with her physiology. Wouldn't I rather have her now,  when we knew everything was fine, versus waiting for something to go wrong? I resisted. Instead I wanted her to be born when the incredibly intricate interplay of hormones and physiology brought her earth side naturally. Throughout these weeks we continued to follow her growth, fetal blood flow and do ultrasound profiles to determine her well being. I also started using naturopathic means to gently encourage her earth side.
"Naturopathic induction", unlike medical induction will not mechanically or hormonally start labor; rather it will encourage nature to take its course.
The following is a discussion of possible methods I would use when helping to encourage a labor to begin. During weeks 38 through to my babe’s birth, I employed them all.
Acupuncture is usually my first tool of choice when working with mothers who are ready to birth. I choose points according to the individual aspects of the case presenting, as well as a classic combination of points used traditionally to move energy downwards, calm the nervous system and help to "open” the musculature in the pelvic floor. I try to do acupuncture for about thirty minutes for three days in a row.
Prostaglandins are tiny fatty compounds in our bodies that have hormone like action. We know that prostaglandins help to ready the cervix for effacement (opening and thinning); semen is high in prostaglandins, as is evening primrose oil. I recommend lots of intimacy, as well as oral and topical application of evening primrose oil to help support the action of the bodies own prostaglandin synthesis .
Many natural childbirth educators also advocate intimacy for its promotion of relaxation, and feelings of security, which can also help to release any extra tension in the pelvic floor. I should also mention nipple stimulation here, which can be done manually or with a great pump, continuous stimulation for 20 minutes at a time several times per day may start contractions due to oxytocin release.
Homeopathy can also be used to help encourage the baby to move into a position of optimal engagement; head down, back to moms belly, chin to its chest, arms at side. The right remedy can also help mom stay relaxed and ready.
Castor oil is a laxative herb that really stimulates the bowels to start moving. This technique is the most often referred to "home remedy" for labor induction. It is thought that by stimulating the bowels into action, the uterus may also be stimulated into action, causing contractions to start with hours of drinking a castor oil "milkshake".
Herbal medicines such as black cohosh, blue cohosh and partridge berry also have a long history traditional use. There is some research that shows these herbs can cause harm if not used sparingly and correctly, so I do not recommend their use outside of professional supervision. Red raspberry leaf tea, on the other hand should be taken as often as possible from week 34 onward to help support the uterus for effective contractions.
Walking and other physical modalities are also very helpful for relaxation and proper positioning. I had a fantastic osteopathic treatment by Annabelle Gaudet from the Clinic Jaune in Shediac

the week before my labor, as well as my first rebozo treatment by traditional birth attendant Lisa Leblanc the night before I went into labor.
In retrospect, it is impossible to know if any of these treatments helped to hasten my labor. I birthed my son at almost the exact same point in gestation without any medical or naturopathic induction. Her birth was faster, less painful, and "smoother", but again, that could be because it was my second child and she was so tiny. In the end I'll never know. I can remain happy and confident that I made the right decisions for my family. Once babe is in our arms, none of us really need to focus on anything else, do we?

Homemade Cough Syrup

I've been an ND for 11years, and made cough syrup for the first time  today. Now that I know how easy it is, it'll be a "go to" recipe for whenever we need it, which is unfortunately often enough in a house with a preschooler with a developing immune system. I found a recipe for Dr.Nowell's syrup among my herbal medicine notes from college, and altered it a bit to use ingredients and herbs that I had on hand.  I choose echinacea as it is anti-viral and anti-bacterial, it helps to strengthen the immune system's fight against upper respiratory tract infections. Wild cherry bark is astringent  in nature which helps to decrease mucus production. It also acts as a mild expectorant, helping to bring mucous up and out of the body. Red clover blossoms have a long traditional history of use in cough, asthma and bronchitis herbal formulas. Red clover also acts as a mild expectorant and is high in vitamin and mineral content. While small doses (such as those outlined below) are safe for short term use, red clover does have phytoestrogens so supervision is advised for long term use. Dried bulk herbs are available at most health food stores. Red clover grows in abundance locally if you plan ahead for next year you could harvest and dry it in late summer for use in your winter chest tonics. Other common herbs that may be used include; thyme, ginger, lobelia, horehound, as well as many others.

The recipe didn't turn out as syrupy as I'd have thought, more like a thick juice consistency. Aside from the sharpness of the vinegar it tastes great, my son actually asked for more after his first dose (must be the sweetness of the honey). 

My Recipe:

1 Lb local unpasteurized honey

24 oz water

2 oz dried red clover flowers

2 oz dried wild cherry bark

1 oz dried echinacea 

Generous pinch of ground cinnamon 

12 oz Apple cider vinegar 

The process:

Mix water and honey & bring to a simmer, add dried herbs and continue to simmer covered  for 20-25 minutes. strain and discard herbs, retaining the liquid. Add vinegar to herbal liquid blend. Place in a bottle with air tight top, refrigerate for 1-2 months. 

Dosage is 2 tsp every 1-3 hrs for children 1 and up, increase to a tablespoon dose for adults. 

Hope for Endometriosis

Endometriosis is one of the most common complaints I come across with my female patients seeking fertility support. Typically it occurs in ten percent of women but for those with fertility challenges endometriosis is thought to be the culprit almost fifty percent of the

time. Symptoms are typically related to pelvic pain; pain with periods, pain with intercourse, vague abdominal pain, and pain with bowel movements. Although it has a hereditary trend, some women do not know they have the condition until faced with challenges when trying
to conceive.
Endometriosis is thought to occur during fetal development when cells from the inner lining of the uterus migrate, or are misplaced, elsewhere
in the body. Most often these cells end up in the pelvic cavity between the uterus and the rectum, but they have been discovered in other location such as the lungs, brain, and nasal passages. Many women start the birth control pill at a young age due to the
symptoms related to endometriosis, such as the aforementioned pain, and irregular, unpredictable cycles.  More often than not, these women's cycles are "regulated" on the pill and are then faced with the
return of symptoms when they discontinue the birth control pills in an
attempt to conceive.
As a naturopathic doctor my treatment goal is to help relieve symptoms
while seeking to address the underlying cause of disease. With
endometriosis this involves addressing the pain caused by
inflammation. Usually the most effective way to reduce overall
inflammation in a person’s entire system to identify and remove food
sensitivities, and to switch foods high in arachadonic acid with those
high in omega three fatty acids.  The most common denominator in the
above food equation is the moderation or complete removal of foods made
from cow's dairy. Approximately fifty percent of adults have at least
some degree of dairy intolerance, and dairy foods are also high in
pro-inflammatory fats; aracahadonic acid. Replacing some dairy foods
with hemp milk, flax oil, and chia seeds is one way to tip the
inflammation scales in your favor. 
Another common treatment goal with endometriosis is to balance the
immune system. Endometriosis does have an autoimmune component as many
women who are tested have self versus self antibodies.  Coincidently
removal of food sensitive’s can help with immune system balance, as
can my three all around favorite supplements; probiotics, fish oil,
and vitamin D. Another important component of immune regulation is
stress management. The physical pain of endometriosis can cause
depression and anxiety, combined with the disappointment of fertility
challenges, it can be challenging for women to move through without
some periods of high tension. Breathing techniques, mind-body
awareness and gentle exercises can help with stress management, and thus balance of the stress hormone cortisol.
As pain relents, stress relents, and the immune system
appears to be more balanced we may also have to employ natural
hormone support to regain regular monthly cycles. Here, the brassica family of foods such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts can help to balance female reproductive hormones.  Herbal medicines such as chaste tree berry, dong qaui and false unicorn root
can also be very helpful. Acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal blends
are an effective choice for regulating hormones, relieving pain, and
increasing blood circulation to the pelvic region.
All of these natural approaches to endometriosis treatment can be used
on their own or in combination with conventional treatments such as
surgery, clomid, IUI and In vitro fertilization. I would suggest
arranging a consult with myself (or another naturopathic doctor) before starting any of the nutritional or herbal treatments described above, to ensure safety and efficacy. Women are so often times doubtful when I tell them their periods do not have to be painful, and amazed when this becomes their actuality. 

Breast Screening update

I've had a few inquiries since the Canadian National Breast Cancer Screening Study was published in the British Medical Journal, my colleague and mentor Sat Dharam Kaur has shared the commentary on the study as well as her breast screening recommendations, please email :satdharamkaur@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the healthy breast ezine mailing list. 

I agree with her recommendations taking into consideration each persons own unique clinical history. If you are interested in having a baseline thermograph taken The Pear Tree is hosting a clinic on June 10th please inquire with: www.medthermonline.com for more information. 

From Dr. Kaur's Ezine: 

         If you didn't see it, the results of the Canadian National Breast Cancer Screening Study were published in the British Medical Journal on Feb 10, 2014. This important study of almost 90,000 women ages 40-59 from across Canada revealed that the number of women who died from breast cancer was the same whether women received screening mammograms annually for 5 years or had annual physical breast exams alone. During the five-year screening period, 666 invasive breast cancers were diagnosed in the women who were screened using mammography, while 524 were found in those receiving physical breast exams. Both groups received the usual medical treatment for breast cancer. Out of all of these women, 180 in the screening mammogram group and 171 of the women in the physical exam group died of breast cancer during the 25 year follow-up period. The conclusion - early detection through mammography did not reduce deaths due to breast cancer. So what are we to do?

Dr. Kaur's Guidelines for Screening

1. Women over 20 years of age should practice monthly breast self-exams

2. All women over 20 years of age and especially women with a family history of breast cancer should have an annual clinical breast exam

3. If you are over 20 and under 50, have an annual screening thermogram. Use mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and/or biopsy to explore any irregular thermogram results

4.  If you: a) have a strong family history of breast cancer; b) have been on the birth control pill or hormone replacement therapy for over 5 years; c) or have other increased risk factors - have an annual thermogram, ultrasound, MRI and clinical breast exam. Use mammography when necessary to confirm a diagnosis or if there is a lump.

5. If you are over 50, have an annual thermogram, clinical breast exam and use mammography, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy as needed if you discover a lump

Click here for more guidelines for breast cancer screening. 

She Let Go

Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa shared this on her blog (http://www.goldenbridgeyoga.com/)   some time ago, I printed it up and it's now hanging in my office, it speaks to  me & many of the women who pass through my clinic door. 

She Let Go

 

By  Rev. Safire Rose

She let go
She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of the fear. She let go of the judgments. She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head. She let go of the committee of indecision within her. She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons. Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice. She didn’t read a book on how to let go. She didn’t search the scriptures. She just let go. She let go of all of the memories that held her back. She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward. She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.

She didn’t promise to let go. She didn’t journal about it. She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer. She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper. She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope. She just let go.

She didn’t analyze whether she should let go. She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter. She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment. She didn’t call the prayer line. She didn’t utter one word. She just let go.

No one was around when it happened. There was no applause or congratulations. No one thanked her or praised her. No one noticed a thing. Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.

There was no effort. There was no struggle. It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad. It was what it was, and it is just that.

In the space of letting go, she let it all be. A small smile came over her face. A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore.

Naturopathic Medicine can help with Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the more common complaints that I see clinically, the underlying cause of anxiety can be from a myriad of sources; biochemical or genetic predisposition, long term or acute life stressors, relationship stress, physical illness, insomnia, poor diet, hormonal imbalances, etc. It becomes the job of the naturopathic doctor to uncover the underlying cause of a person’s anxiety, while simultaneously treating the current symptoms to bring balance to the patient’s life experience. Fortunately anxiety is a complaint that typically responds well to naturopathic therapeutics; on their own, as well as in conjunction with pharmaceutical approaches.

I love to combine our gentle effective medicines and modalities with mindfulness based practices. Yoga, meditation, breathing exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy are all effective ways to teach the practice of letting go and letting be. Many people with anxiety disorders have never learned how to effectively help themselves through periods of intense stress and anxiety, the aforementioned mindfulness techniques are invaluable to learn, or re-learn internal coping strategies.

There are many herbal medicines in several different classes that we consider when a patient presents with anxiety. Some of these herbs work similarly to benzodiazepines, causing mild sedation as they modulate the GABA receptors in the brain; valerian and passionflower are examples of sedative herbs. Others are even more gentle in their sedative effects, but are helpful in calming and settling the mind, we call these  herbs nerviness; lemon balm and chamomile are examples of nervines. Other herbals help to support the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands help to stabilize stress response, blood sugar and reproductive hormones, this class of herbs are called adaptogens; rhodiola and ashwaghanda are examples of adaptogen herbs that help us to recover from long periods of physical or emotional stress.

Acupuncture is another fantastic tool to use for acute or chronic anxiety states, oftentimes people experiencing anxiety need support in their heart and pericardium  channels’ to soothe mental and spiritual agitation, improve sleep and restore calm. It is also helpful to stimulate the kidney energies to assuage fears and restore physical and mental energy. The beauty of acupuncture is the ability to customize each individual’s treatment protocol, and easily make minor adjustments to the protocol with each visit based on symptom feedback, as well as traditional Chinese medicine tongue and pulse readings.

Nutrition and nutriceutical supplementation are the back bone of many naturopathic treatment protocols. “Clean” protein with every meal ensures the presence of amino acid building blocks used by our body to make neurotransmitters like serotonin, gaba, and dopamine.  Protein if often swapped out of breakfast in exchange for a caffeinated beverage, in the long run this nutritional bargain may be more anxiety promoting than our original plan of getting “extra energy” from a coffee or tea. Eating meals at regular times is important for our mental health and feeling of well being by keeping our blood sugar levels more stable throughout the day. There are many nutritional supplements that help people manage their anxiety, b vitamins, theanine, gaba, and inositol have become favorite supportive additions to my treatment protocols over the years.

If you are not certain if the symptoms that  you are experiencing are related to anxiety, bring it up at your next visit with your ND, we will certainly work with you to help you to get a better understanding of your symptom presentation.

Electrolytes- Salty ions for Summer performance

I think that "electrolyte" became a buzzword in sporting circles with the development and subsequent marketing of ------orade, and similar “sports drinks”.  The beverage companies did not invent electrolytes though, they’ve been inside us all along.

Electrolytes simply put, are organic salts, minerals in our body’s that carry an electric charge, also known as ions. They are naturally present in all of our bodily fluids; blood, urine, sweat, tears, etc. Sodium, Calcium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus, bicarbonate, sulfates and magnesium are the electrolytes most abundant in our body.

Electrolytes are used in our body to maintain voltages across cellular membranes, which work as communication via impulses to and from other cells. These impulses could result in a muscle contraction, or a nerve being stimulated, etc.

Electrolytes play a big role in water balance within the body, upset in electrolyte balance can result from under or over hydration, or kidney dysfunction. Our electrolyte balance therefore becomes off kilter when we loose too much fluid through sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea. After these episodes it is important to replenish our lost minerals in an attempt to re-establish electrolyte equilibrium. Loss of Sodium, potassium and calcium are the most troublesome for smooth functioning in our systems. Exercising outdoors during summertime, hot yoga cases and infrared sauna are all activities that increase the need for electrolyte replacement.

Rather than reaching for a sugar or aspartame commercialized sports drink, try one of these homemade replacement recipes modified from those found on fitday.com

The Lip Twister
1/4 cup of lemon juice
1/4 cup of lime juice
1 teaspoon of salt
1 whole squeezed orange (or 1/2 frozen can of orange juice)
Pinch of baking soda
1 liter of water

Coco-ade
2 cups of coconut milk
1 teaspoon of salt
Pinch of baking soda
1 teaspoon of  honey
1 liter of water

Single Serve
2 lemon halves squeezed into a large drinking glass
2 orange halves added
Squirt of honey
Four shakes of salt
Pinch of baking soda
Fill the rest of the glass with water

STEP THREE: Inner Body Bright, Detoxify in 2013!

Adding plenty of water and extra fiber to your daily intake should be helping with " smoother" elimination. The third step towards basic bowel detoxification is adding a daily dose of probiotics. Probiotics are bacteria from fermented foods that lend benefit to human health. One of the benefits probiotics provide is helping with bowel regularity. I have seen many cases of patients with "IBS" have their symptoms resolve once probiotics are introduced. If dairy products pose no threat to your bowel health and function yogurt is probably the easiest way to have daily beneficial bacteria. All yogurt should have active culture so do not be fooled into thinking you need one specific yogurt brand. If dairy is not an option choose another healthy fermented food like kimchee, miso, or raw sauerkraut  or take a probiotic supplement that is labelled dairy free. y favorite probiotics are HMF forte by genestra, a well researched line which contain human specific strains of beneficial bacteria.

Trying our best to avoid "whooping it up"

Southeastern New Brunswick has recently experienced an increase in the incidence of Whooping cough. The symptoms of whooping cough (pertussis) generally begin much like a mild cold, with head congestion, sneezing, running nose, low grade fever and mild cough.

In adults and young adults the cough may remain persistent with a hacking cough, ending in an air hungry “whoop” for 4-12 weeks. The condition in adults and older children is generally not life threatening. For babies and young children, whooping can become more serious, leading to difficulty eating, drinking, or sleeping.

The province of New Brunswick is encouraging everyone who comes into regular contact with babies and young children to be (re-) vaccinated for whooping cough, and to ensure that children’s vaccinations are up to date. Routine immunization for pertussis is given at 2, 4, 6, 18 months and again at 4 years. Immunity gained from immunization is thought to last 4-5 years, having had the whooping cough provides between 10-30 years of resistance to the illness. A woman who is breastfeeding her child, who had whooping cough in the past, will mount antibodies if re-exposed to the bacteria, and this immunity can be passed to her nursing infant.

Naturopathic philosophy focuses on prevention. Naturopathic treatment strengthens the person’s resistance to diseases versus reacting to the infectious organism itself. We do have medicines that can eradicate specific microbes once they’ve taken up residence, but we’d prefer to support our patient’s tissues, making them less hospitable to infection in the first place.

If you’ve contracted pertussis, have chosen not to vaccinate, or want to add to the prevention allotted by vaccination, naturopathic medicine always has something to offer. Supporting the immune system should come first and foremost in this discussion. If our defenses are strong enough we need not worry about which specific infections are going around. With a stronger immune system we may still “catch” infectious diseases, but our presentation will be milder and shorter in duration. A plan to support immune function is best developed on an individual to individual basis. Excellent nutritional intake is always the foundation for such a plan. Identification and elimination of food sensitivities, and chronic low grade infections can also alleviate burden on the immune system. There are many natural medicines combing herbs, homeopathy, vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements formulated to address immune system vitality.

An acute whooping cough infection should be addressed with anti-biotics. Anti-biotic treatment can then be augmented by a combination of herbal medicines; a formula would include herbs to kill the bacteria, herbs to soothe the cough by fighting inflammation, as well as expectorants to facilitate clearing the mucous. Thus, an herbal formulation can offer support in fighting infection, but also to help the tissues to regain normal function.

Homeopathy is a system of medicine developing in the early ninetieth century at a time when whooping cough was much more common than it is today. Many of homeopathic remedies that were used to treat pertussis historically remain relevant choices for those seeking natural, safe solutions for the disease today; drosera, bryonia, rumex, and antimonium tart are all worth considering in this category.

Acupuncture is used to support specific organ and energy pathways (meridians) within the body. The lung meridian is responsible for the body’s connection with the outside world, using acupuncture to support and strengthen lung energy is a good adjunctive therapy when protecting against or treating pertussis.

Becoming aware of your health choices when an infection becomes more prevalent with our populations is a part of taking control of your own health. Weighing risk and reward in an educated manner can help to remove the fear of our hearty winters, and all the microbes that pass between therein.

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